Alpaca Annie

The alpacas at this Romney Marsh attraction are genuinely engaging animals, and a visit here beats sitting in a caravan on a rainy afternoon. You'll get close enough to feed and handle them - something most zoos won't let you do - which makes it worthwhile if you've got kids who tire easily of glass barriers and distance.

It's a small operation, so manage expectations accordingly. This isn't a day-long excursion. Most families spend an hour, maybe ninety minutes tops, before everyone's had their fill of alpaca interaction and the novelty wears off. The animals are well-kept and calm around visitors, which matters because anxious creatures make for a miserable experience.

Bring a packed lunch if you're planning a longer visit to the area - there's not much nearby in terms of facilities. The flat landscape around Romney Marsh can feel a bit bleak in winter, so timing matters. Spring and summer are obviously better, when the fields have some colour and the weather won't drive you back indoors after twenty minutes.

It pairs reasonably well with a camping holiday at Fallow Fields or New Beach, both within walking distance, though you'll want other activities lined up too. Port Lympne Safari Park is closer than you might think at 2.7 miles, so you could bundle both into a day trip. Alpaca Annie works best as a quick stop rather than a destination in itself.